China Reacts to Japanese Anti-Ship Missile Positioning

China is set to take “firm and effective actions,” in response to a planned move of anti-ship missiles by Japanese Self Defense Force closer to the disputed Senkaku Islands, according to a Monday statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The JSDF intends to move Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles to Kyushu and Miyako islands likely to better defend the Japanese claims to the small islands, according to local press reports.

“Japan’s moves in the military and security fields will have complex impacts on the regional security environment. Therefore, Japan should give responsible statements as to its true intentions behind these moves,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in response to the reports.he deployments are in line with plans announced in our Mid-Term Defence Programme (MTDP) in December 2013 and are not meant to aggravate any specific country,
Japanese officials confirmed the moves of the Type 12s in a Tuesday statement to Jane’s Defence Weekly.

“The deployments are in line with plans announced in our Mid-Term Defence Program (MTDP) in December 2013 and are not meant to aggravate any specific country,” a JSDF spokesman said.
The Type 12 missiles have a range of about 62 miles and are an improvement over earlier Type 88 anti-ship missiles manufactured by Mitsubishi.

“The new missiles feature mid-course GPS guidance that is said to be more precise due to improved topography-matching and target-discrimination capabilities. The Type 12 also boasts shorter reload times and reduced lifecycle costs,” according to Jane’s.

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About Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the USNI Online Editor at the U.S. Naval Institute.
He was formerly the U.S. Maritime Correspondent for the Washington D.C. bureau of Jane’s Defence Weekly and Jane’s Navy International. In his role he covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
Sam is a 2003 graduate of Virginia Military Institute.

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China is get frisky, their feeling their oats. And they don’t care who knows it. Their basically say to the regional power to be. “Move It, Or Lose It.”

TokyoTengu

Pretty benign step if you ask me. The limited range of those missiles make them of limited effectiveness. A more realistic and serious step would be to station a squadron of F-15Js at the airport, but that would throw the residents into a total tizzy, so it might not be politically feasible.

http://www.kcharlesbadoian/ Ken Badoian

Just a show of force…but china and the PRC Army Navy better be on guard. The JIN is probaly one of the most professional navies in the world with a long tradition. Thier ships are armed with advanced proven systems and would hold it’s own against the PRC’s army/navy. Stupid name. MMCS(SW)(SS) USN Ret.

Secundius

Nobody said the Chinese weren’t imaginative in thinking of catchy slogans and naming conventions.

OleSalt_1

Japan is ready to defend its Senkaku Islands because of past and recent threats by the Chinese. The East Sea is different from the South China Sea where China has bullied both Vietnam and Philippines by claiming their off-shore territorial waters. In fact, China claims 80% of the South China Sea, and refuses to bring its claim to the International Court of Justice for its ruling when requested to do so by Manila.

Tim

I don’t think China is too worried about this as it has deployed more than 350 modified DF-15 ballistic
missiles aiming at Japan major cities since 2006.

Sam Riddle

This is the perfect conditions for getting sucked into another war, Obama will probably let China run right over Japan in the process! Based on his foreign affairs leadership.

Secundius

I don’t know sir. The last time China fought a Blue Water Naval Battle with Japan, was approximately 1,000-years ago, and that battle ended in disaster
for the Chinese Naval Forces.

Sam Riddle

Are you aware that China has been very busy building up their fleet (aircraft carrier and ballistic missile submarines) even to the extent of showing up at our Pacific Shores?

Secundius

The PLAN has only one Medium-Size Aircraft Carrier, with a maximum complement of forty-plane. Of which two squadrons are fighters. As for their submarines, please. There so noisy, you can actually hear them from the opposite side of the planet. I pity any sea creature, that swim anywhere near them.